Division Within The Families and Church 9/9/2014

Good Morning,

I am starting this Tuesday morning with a big cup of Door County Harvest Blend Coffee. Just what I need to get moving.

There are many lessons we can learn from the Bible. There are more lessons than I will ever be able to write about. We often hear of divisions within families and churches. In Philippians 4:2-9 we pick up a hint of division in the church.

Philippians 4:2-9New King James Version (NKJV)

Be United, Joyful, and in Prayer

² I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. ³ And^[a] I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Meditate on These Things

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. ⁹ The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Paul appealed to Euodia  and Syntyche to agree with each other and for the entire church to stand firm in the Lord. Paul offered them a solution for receiving God's peace, to rejoice in the Lord and let their thoughts be filled with that which is good, lovely and true. Good advice for church and home.

How can one be divided and disagree to the point of exasperating others if they are rejoicing at all times by what Jesus has done for them? How can one be in disagreement with a family member to the point of exasperation while meditating on lovely things, praiseworthy people or things, or whatever things are pure?

We are as cantankerous and crabby as we choose to be. We can strive for peace when we concentrate on God and the beauty around us. What do you choose, peace, strife or crabbiness?

God bless,
Marty